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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: howe02 on Friday 15 October 21 10:09 BST (UK)
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Looking for parents of John Hartford
born Carlton, Victoria 1916 Vic bdm - only lists mother as Mary Hartford - no father listed
however war records say 13 June 1917
Newspaper death notice for son (Donald) of John Hartford 3rd December 1943 mentions grandmother of Donald as Mrs M Watts
I am thinking this is Mary Hartford - mother of John
Looking for a marriage and a death record of Mary
Any suggestions greatly appreciated, thanks ..... Alison
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Hello
I think I have an answer for you but you'll have to forgive me Ancestry is down so I've had to go with FindMyPast and it's not my usual go to for Australia.
There is a death for a Mary Watts 1960 age 67 ,Father George Hartford .Mother Rachel Brown at Broo Victoria . Reg 10758.
Can't spot a marriage or other children for her and Mr Watts.
Will carry on looking
Ciderdrinker
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From the death ciderdrinker found there is this marriage
16 May 1942 St Peters Eastern Hill Melbourne Bourke Victoria
John Joseph Watts age 35 bachelor
Mary Alston (widow )age 46 her address 13,Finsbury Street Newmarket
Father George Hartford deceased (bricklayer )
Mother Rachel Brown
Rosie
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This looks like her first marriage possibility
Mary Harford
Jacob Alston
1937 Victoria Australia
Rosie
Added not sure now about this one as looking at the marriage record to John Joseph Watts it has Mary widow 3/2/1937 ???
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https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history
- I cannot find the Alston marriage on the Victoria site.
Michael James Alston died 2nd February 1937. He is listed as the husband of Mary and father of "Johnnie"
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206181086?searchTerm=%22Michael%20James%20Alston%22
His middle name is Jacob at his birth, so possibly the reference that Rosie has found is correct.
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx
- there is a record here for a John Alston (crossed out, replaced with Hartford), whose mother was listed as Mary Alston.
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I awoke this morning to the wonderful three responses, thanks so much to each of you
I will spend the morning looking at the information you have so kindly shared
Thanks heaps, bye for now, have to go look with excitement, regards ........ Alison
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I found both Mary and John Watts buried at Fawkner in same grave, thanks again .......... Alison
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I don't seem to have any luck with Vic BDM website - searches yield nothing
There is a Lydia Lewer marrying James Alston and a 1919 divorce for Michael James and Lydia Alston 1919 (haven't seen documents) tried to search PROV - no luck but would be interesting to read
Lydia Alston living in North Melbourne 1914
James Michael Alston living in North Melbourne 1926 ...
Mary Alston living in North Melbourne 1931 - 1934 - don't know the addresses
Is there a reference number for the 1937 marriage of Mary Harford (spelling) and Jas Alston?
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Reference number 1659
Mary Harford
Jacob Alston
Divorce papers for Michael and Lydia are on Ancestry if you have access
Rosie
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Mary Alston home duties and James Alston labourer
Address 83 Alden Street Melbourne North (1931-1936
Rosie
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Thanks Rosie for the reference number and the address
I can't see the divorce document as I am not currently subscribed to ancestry
I used to pay $129 for the year and now they want almost double that $249 and I no longer get much value - except in times like this ............ thanks again for helping ............. A
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Hi
I can see it. It is convoluted and lengthy.
I am happy to pull bits out and type for you, if you can say what in particular you would like.
Sue
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Sue - you are a gem Looking to see if a Mary Hartford is mentioned
I think the James Alston is the man I am looking for who eventually married Mary
(Michael James Alston / James Michael Alston / Jas or Jacob
Mary had a boy John Hartford 1916 - no father listed on birth
Wondered why Lydia and James divorced so looking for any clues if it is my James Alston and was he accused of adultery or something - looking for clues, of course it might not be the same man
Is there an address on the document, any basic clues, don't spend too much time, thanks .... Alison
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Here is an outline of the case.
I can look again for your areas of interest, but basically this is it-
Michael James Alston . Gas employee aged 38 . Born Brighton. Married Lydia Dec 1907 in a civil ceremony and then again in a church in Williamstown in 1908.
Prior to marriage Lydia was a barmaid in Nth Melb. And after the separation is again a barmaid.
There were no children living of the marriage.
The couple lived at many addresses and Lucy Lydia drank heavily, was dirty and was a poor housekeeper and they were evicted frequently.
Her mother was from Beechworth and stayed with them for a while. Bad drinking.
Another chap came on the scene named Mark Dunkerton and ex policeman.
Michael left in 1918 for good.
She had a baby in 1919 which Michael says is not his. He stopped paying any allowance at that point.
Sue
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Michael James ALSTON's address at the time of the case was 457 Latrobe Street.
There is no mention of him involved in any other relationship.
Sue
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Birth in Vic
LEWER Horace James
Mother Lydia LEWER
At CARL CENT
Year 1919
9669/1919
The death of the wife of Mark Dunkerton in 1942
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205276050?searchTerm=%22mark%20dunkerton%22
Sue
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Hi
Here is a snip from the proceedingsshowing where Michael was living in the years 1814 1914 to 1918.
Sue
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Thankyou so much
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Hi
I am not sure whether you have all you need on the Hartford/Alston inquiry, but here are a couple more items FYI which may support your idea of the paternity of John HARTFORD (b 1916)
Michael J ALSTON was Michael Jacob ALSTON at birth.
Parents Jacob ALSTON and Bridget FOGARTY.
Born at Brighton 1876
His father Jacob was naturalised in 1911 and the record is digitized on NAA website.
You may have seen this item Michael was still at the gasworks at his death in 2nd Feb 1937.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206190817
You will remember he worked at the gasworks during the divorce case.
He was older than Mary if her age at death is correct.
Their late marriage in the same year as his death suggests an impediment of some sort.
Was one of them still married to another we wonder.
Anyhow, a bit of material for thought.
Sue